Mountain Biking - FedEx Ground shipping US--> Canada

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
sparks_219
05-29-05, 08:35 PM
I just bought a Selle Italia SLR saddle off ebay and I forgot to check the shipping methods. FedEx Ground will be used instead of USPS.

How much custom charges and taxes will I be charged??

Thanks

Ming

pcsanity1
05-29-05, 09:48 PM
Depends on the value of the item.
sparks_219
05-30-05, 05:16 AM
Depends on the value of the item.

It's only $53 US. However, when I used UPS back in the day, they automatically slap on a $30 custom fee regardless of the value of the item. That is why I was a little worried.

Ming

santiago
05-30-05, 08:16 AM
This is what you do for UPS. You can likely do the same with FEDEX. Make sure you have a tracking number.
1 - Call UPS/Fedex and tell them that you want to clear customs on your own.
2 - When package arrives, they will hold it and tell you when customs papers are ready.
3 - Go pick up at dept customs papers and driver over to the local Canada Customs office with the papers. They will tell you where Canada Customs office is. My local UPS depot even has a preprinted map showing me how to get there.
4 - Over at Canada Customs you will likely only pay GST/PST. Canada Customs is very helpful since they know you are not a customs brokers. They will ask you what the product is and take care of the rest. I just bought Crank Brothers pedals and only had to pay taxes. There were no duties.
5 - Canada Customs will now "release" your package.
6 - Go back with your "release" to the UPS/Fedex depot and pick up your package.
7 - Save $30 in brokerage fees.

In Montreal the UPS office is in Lachine and is a 10-minute drive to the Canada Customs office. I usually get this stuff done in an hour. I hear Toronto it's the same.
Totoro
05-30-05, 08:41 AM
It's only $53 US. However, when I used UPS back in the day, they automatically slap on a $30 custom fee regardless of the value of the item. That is why I was a little worried.

Ming

You should always ship to Canada by postal service, not courier. Once I ordered a $10 book, and they slapped that brokers fee (a.k.a. - SCAM) on top. If the person had sent it by mail, I would have paid nothing. Also plan on waiting several weeks while it sits in the port waiting for processing. Now I live in the US, so no more such worries.
Sebach
05-30-05, 10:27 AM
In my experience, UPS is worse than FedEx when it comes to brokerage and customs charges. Always go USPS when US > Canada!